098 Birth of the American Tax Man

Ben Franklin's World

Liz Covart

History, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 6 September 2016

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Could customs collectors, the tax men of early America, be the unsung founders of the early United States? Today, we explore the creation of the United States customs service and its contributions to the establishment of the federal government with Gautham Rao, an Assistant Professor of History at American University and author of National Duties: Custom Houses and the Making of the American State. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/098 Helpful Show Links Help Support Ben Franklin's World Crowdfunding Campaign Ask the Historian Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Ben Franklin's world,
0:05.0	podcast about Early American History with Liz Kovart.
0:08.0	The study of history is key to understanding who we are
0:12.0	and how we can affect a better future.
0:14.7	Van Franklin's world will introduce you to historical people and events that have impacted
0:19.2	and shaped our present day world.
0:21.7	And now here's your host, Liz Colart.
0:24.0	Hello and welcome to episode 98 of Ben Franklin's world.
0:28.6	The podcast dedicated to helping you learn more about how the people and events of our early American
0:33.9	past have shaped the present day world we live in. In November 1789, Benjamin
0:39.5	Franklin sat down and composed a letter to his friend.
0:42.6	French scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy.
0:45.4	Franklin inquired about his friend's health,
0:47.4	and then he recounted the ratification
0:49.4	of the new United States Constitution.
0:51.8	Of the Constitution, Franklin remarked, quote, our new Constitution. Of the Constitution, Franklin remarked, quote,
0:54.0	Our new Constitution is now established. Everything seems to promise it will be durable.
0:59.0	But, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes end quote
1:04.3	Franklin's famous musings note that he was unsure whether the new national government
1:09.1	would thrive but he was certain that it would institute taxes.
1:13.0	Like many Americans in the late 1780s,
1:15.5	Franklin knew that governments needed revenue to function.
	...

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